Tech

The tallest skyscraper in Stockholm will be made entirely out of wood

Chris Weller

2016-04-25T15:50:00Z

If Ikea's minimalist approach to home furnishing still isn't enough, you'll probably love Sweden's newest skyscraper.

Designed by Anders Berensson Architects, the 40-floor building is made entirely out of cross-laminated timber, or CLT — a strong lumber prized for its durability. It's the same wood used in the design of another all-wood apartment building in Portland, Oregon.

It's a wonder to behold.

The new building, "Trätoppen," or "tree top," will sit inside in the middle of an existing car park.

"If we want to reduce the amount of cars in the city center of Stockholm and at the same time make space for more housing without building on green areas, then replacing car parks with housing, shops and restaurants feels obvious," Anders Berensson said in an email to Tech Insider.

The car park is one of Stockholm's most famous, notably because it displays the number of each floor on its facade. Architects on the new building decided to play that style up even more.

Each floor of the building proudly declares how it fits into the rest of the structure.

The building will reach 436 feet high and include apartments, shopping, restaurants, and private terraces.

The shopping and restaurants will live on floors 0-6, a public terrace on floor 7, apartments from 8-39, and a rooftop terrace on the 40th floor.

The view from inside is unlike any other.

Each apartment will be roughly 850 square feet.

Berensson's firm hasn't determined how much the units will cost or when construction will begin.

As the tallest skyscraper in Stockholm, the building was also designed with energy efficiency in mind.

Throughout the day, the building will cast several shadows on the city below, cooling people during the warmer summer months.

Berensson also says the facade of the building will reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the city below because of the wood's ability to store carbon in its walls.

Once completed, it will be both dizzying and impressive.

Design